Via Alpina Slovenia: Red trail Stage 1 (Premuda-Matavun)

Logo Via Alpina Slovenia: Red trail Stage 1 (Premuda-Matavun)
Logo Via Alpina Slovenia: Red trail Stage 1 (Premuda-Matavun)
Tour data
25.31km
114 - 668m
Distance
874hm
555hm
Ascent
07:27h
 
Duration
Brief description

This is the first (or last) stage of the red trail Via Alpina that enters into Slovenia. The stage passes Lipica where the magnificent Lipizzaner horses are bred.

About the region

Difficulty
medium
Rating
Technique
Fitness
Landscape
Experience
Starting point

Krvavi Potok

Route
Bagnoli Superiore
Cunicolo di Val Rosandra (127 m)
0.0 km
fonte
1.7 km
Bottazzo
1.7 km
Caverna della Ferrovia (305 m)
2.1 km
Grotta Martina
2.1 km
Caverna in Val Rosandra (270 m)
2.1 km
Grotta 9° di Capodanno
2.2 km
Draga
2.6 km
Skrokelca
3.2 km
Pesek
4.4 km
Chervari
5.4 km
Pivovarna in pivnica Flora
5.7 km
San Tommaso (604 m)
8.4 km
Žleb (655 m)
11.0 km
Jirmanec (670 m)
11.5 km
Planinski dom Kokoš
11.7 km
Škibini
13.4 km
Rudnik
14.5 km
Feenhöhle (418 m)
16.5 km
Cerkev Svetega Mihaela
18.9 km
Hülben
18.9 km
Homestead Vrbin
23.2 km
Danne di Divaccia
23.9 km
Mattauno
25.2 km
Ulurje
25.2 km
Mahnič
25.2 km


Best season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Description

One only gets a proper perspective of the Karst plateau after the descent to Lipica (from Kokoš). This stunning green oasis in the middle of a stony Karstic landscape has been home to the Lipica stud farm for four centuries. Not far from the stables is another jewel of the Karst with an equally venerable history. The Vilenica cave has the longest tradition of speleological tourism in Europe (it began receiving visitors as early as 1633).

The neighbouring village of Lokev, one of the biggest in the Karst, also has a notable history. The tower once formed part of region's defences against Ottoman incursions and today houses a military museum. The village is also renowned for its Karstic prosciutto, ham cured in the Karst's Bora fall wind. It is sliced wafer-thin and served with Teran, a blood-red Karstic wine. The Škocijan caves, carved out of the rock by the Reka river, is one of the jewels of Slovene and European natural heritage.

Directions

Via Alpina follows the macadam road to Planinska koča na Kokoši (670 m), which you will reach in 30 minutes. The hut does not provide accommodation. The hike from the border crossing takes 1h 30min. From the hut, follow the marked path down along a ridge to the boundary stone. There is a crossroads from which a road branches off to the right and runs past Lipica to rejoin the Via Alpina. Turns left onto the path and follow the macadam road from Kokoši to the Lipica border crossing. Cross the regional road then continue walking along a somewhat poorer road, which eventually gives way to a dirt track on the right side and leads you to the entrance of the Lipica estate. The Lipica hotel complex lies just beyond. The hike from Kokoši takes 1h.

The world-renowned Lipica stud farm lies in a typical Karstic landscape and is the home of the elegant white Lipizzaner horses. The stud farm was established on 1580. Via Alpina bypasses the hotels to reach the junction between the Sežana and Lokev roads. Continue walking along the tarmac road for another 300 m until you reach the first iron gate, then turn right onto the macadam road, which crosses a meadow and leads you to the Lipica quarry. 20 min. After a 15-minute walk you will come to a crossroads. Turn left and cross an overgrown meadow. When you reach the regional road, cross it and continue walking along the footpath to the Vilenica speleological hut, right next to the Vilenica cave. Walk straight ahead across the meadow and through the opening in the Karstic wall, then make a sharp right turn towards the hamlet of Lokev on the other side. Follow the narrow tarmac streets through the hamlet. 40 min. The hike from Lipica takes 1h.

Turn left at the church and walk to the Divača - Lokev regional road. Cross the main road and continue along the village road going to Prelože. Turn left at the junction at the end of the tarmac road. Cross the meadow to reach the railway pedestrian underpass and continue walking below the motorway until you reach the main road. Cross the road and continue walking past the houses. At the next group of houses, turn left onto the macadam road, which eventually gives way to a dirt track. Go northeast across the field to the macadam road and walk up the slope along its right side. After 10 minutes, the terrain levels off on Na Prevalu pass. Climb down the other side to the tarmac road next to the Škocjan caves tourist information centre. The hike from Lokev to Matavun takes 1h 10 min.

Highest point
668 m
Endpoint

Škocjan

Height profile
© outdooractive.com

Equipment

Have windstoppers and a hat with you in spring, autumn and winter. In summer, pack enough water because these are dry lands.

Safety instructions

Strong wind in winter can mean, that the cold is much greater than shown on the gage.

Tips

You can start the trail in Lipica, therefore cutting it in half. Use the time to visit Lipica stables or watch the Lipizzaner show.

Additional information

In Divača find Hotel Malovec, which is equiped to cater to hikers.


Directions

By car, by train or by bus.

Public transportation

By train from Ljubljana, Koper or Trst (Trieste), or by bus.

Parking

Parking is available


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General info

Refreshment stop
Cultural/Historical
Fauna
A lot of view
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